DISTRIBUTION AND EVOLUTION OF ICE APRONS IN A CHANGING CLIMATE IN THE MONT-BLANC MASSIF (WESTERN EUROPEAN ALPS)

Abstract. Ice Apron (IA) is a poorly studied ice feature, commonly existing in all the world’s major mountain regions. This study aims to map locations of IAs Mont Blanc massif (MBM), making use very high-resolution optical satellite images from 2001, 2012 and 2019. 423 were identified accurately delineated MBM on 2019, their topographic characteristics studied. We generated our own Digital Elevation Model (DEM) at 4 m resolution since freely available products predominantly suffer significant inconsistencies, especially steep areas. Results show that most exist elevations above regional Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA), slopes, concave surfaces, northern southern aspects rugged terrains. They are also associated with slope glaciers as 85% them occur these glaciers’ headwalls. A comparison between 2001 2019 shows have lost around 29% area over period 18 years. rate loss alarming larger glacier bodies. effect parameters loss. found factors like slope, aspect, curvature, elevation Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI) strongly influence IAs.